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Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General
António Guterres, has stated that the “
Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, if not collapse, if its oil needs go unmet”. Guterres' concern follows the recent
executive order issued by US President
Donald Trump which stipulates tariffs will be placed on imports from countries which supply Cuba with oil. The measure piles
particular pressure on Mexico which has reportedly emerged as the main oil supplier to the island after Venezuela oil imports were stopped following the US military incursion in Caracas last month, removal of former president
Nicolás Maduro (2013-2026), and US assertion of control over Venezuela’s oil sector. In the latest sign of crisis afflicting Cuba’s energy system, yesterday the state power company, Unión Eléctrica (UNE), reported that a failure on the power grid left four provinces on the east of the island without electricity – Holguín (which was partially affected), and Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo. Last week British newspaper the
Financial Times (FT) reported that Cuba only
had enough oil to last for 15 to 20 days.
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